Lisburn farmer is fined for pollution offence

A farmer has pleaded guilty and was fined £400, plus an offenders levy of £15 for a pollution offence.

Gavin Hayes, Lough Road, Lisburn, appeared at the local court for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 11 March 2014, a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspected a waterway at 14 Glenavy Road, Ballinderry and observed it to be discoloured with a large amount of sewage fungal growth on the bed of the waterway. The polluting discharge was traced to farm premises owned by Mr Hayes. The length of waterway impacted by the discharge was approximately 500 metres.

Samples taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Anyone wishing to report a pollution incident can call the 24 hour Water Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.